File
A former SARS Customs officer was sentenced to an effective six years in prison for corruption in the Musina Magistrate's Court this week.
SARS said Isaiah Makamola was arrested by the Hawks on 26 May 2016 at Beitbridge border post for illegally selling SADC certificates on two separate occasions.
He was caught in a sting operation by the Hawks at the time, which also saw the arrests of officials from the Department of Home Affairs, a former Musina councillor and a local prosecutor, who were all allegedly assisting criminal gangs and taking bribes.
Makamola was dismissed from SARS after undergoing a disciplinary hearing shortly after his arrest.
SARS said its zero-tolerance stand against internal fraud and corruption has seen close to 300 sanctions brought against employees since April 2017.
"These include customs fraud and corruption cases and cases of unauthorised interference in tax matters. Of those, more than 220 were dismissed and/or resigned during the disciplinary process," SARS said.
